wrapping machine lifters to transfer bales from field to truck to storage. Lucerne or alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a deep-rooted, temperate, perennial pasture legume which is well adapted to mixed farming systems in southern Western Australia. Any variety sown in Australia should be resistant to spotted alfalfa aphid, and resistance to blue green aphid is also recommended. Lucerne is a relatively drought tolerant plant but it will produce yields proportionate to water supply. To ensure yields of lucerne seed are maximised, good cross pollination is critical. can reduce crop yields in the year following the lucerne phase due to a dry soil. Effective weed management will increase the legume component and nitrogen accumulation from a lucerne based pasture. Australian Fodder Industry Association is the peak body for the Australian fodder industry covering all sectors of the supply chain from the paddock to the end user. These stems may branch from the lower axillary buds as they develop. The time of cutting will be a compromise between quality and yield. The earlier the cut, the higher the quality of the fodder but the lower the yield. Lucerne pasture may also be cut to make ‘opportunity’ hay, when there is excess pasture growth in good seasons or if the lucerne stand becomes weedy and haymaking provides an opportunity to prevent weed seed set. In a good season with plenty of growth, the crop may be cut for hay, once or twice depending on the hay market. While lucerne is diverse in its growing regions and uses, a successful and profitable lucerne enterprise requires significant attention to detail and excellent agronomy skills. Depending on the end use of the crop, the irrigation strategy will be designed to provide adequate moisture at critical development points of the crop. General information on lucerne varieties has been collated by Pastures Australia, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, and Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Seed producers have additional responsibilities if producing certified seed, to ensure they comply with international certification systems, managed by OECD or AOSCA. Lucerne Australia is the peak industry body for the Australian lucerne seed industry. The harvested seed requires cleaning before it can be marketed, to remove weather damaged lucerne seed, immature lucerne seed, weed seeds, trash (plant material) and damaged seeds. Because of the rigorous cleaning requirements, most certified seed producers are located within close proximity to accredited seed cleaning facilities in the south east of South Australia. Further, a significant amount of production is traded in private negotiations rather than through a central or registered market system. Dr.Waqas NawazPMAS AAUR 2. The reliability of climate and water (irrigation or rainfall) is a major factor for the predominance of a lucerne seed industry in these regions; together with the aggregation of services and infrastructure that is required for a grower to participate in the seed industry. Lucerne. This prompted significant breeding and introduction of new varieties, and there are now more than 50 lucerne varieties available to Australian growers. Harvested seed is generally transported from the farm to cleaning and storage facilities (in some cases, the lucerne seed grower may own facilities and offer services to other growers).